ELECTION '04 President shifts focus back to Iraq

Bush focused on the economy during his last visit to Wisconsin.
COMBINED DISPATCHES
President Bush is shifting his message from the economy to Iraq in Wisconsin, a state he lost by less than 6,000 votes, a switch caused by nagging questions over whether the president was justified in taking the country to war.
The president starts his second bus tour of Wisconsin in two months in staunchly Republican Milwaukee suburbs, where he bested Vice President Al Gore by a margin of better than 2-to-1 four years ago. Bush's 133,000 votes in Waukesha County represented more than 10 percent of his total in Wisconsin.
Riding across the other side of the state two months ago, Bush highlighted his tax cuts as a key to improving the economy, lowering unemployment and creating new jobs.
Bush is offering a broad defense of the invasion of Iraq as he criticizes rival John Kerry, declaring that the Democrat's embrace of the Hollywood crowd puts him out of touch with Midwest values of strength and steadfastness, qualities the president says he has exhibited as commander in chief.
Democratic convention
Meanwhile, Democrats Tuesday unveiled a speaker lineup and a theme for their July 26-29 convention: "Stronger at Home, Respected in the World."
The party's appeal is hardly a surprise given the Republicans' traditional advantage on national security issues, which loom larger than in any recent election.
But with Kerry, a Navy lieutenant wounded and decorated in Vietnam, Democrats have more ammunition to use in response this year and will use it in Boston.
"By the end of the convention, the American people are going to know that John Kerry is a proven leader that can be trusted," said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, convention chairman.
The full lineup of speakers was still being prepared. For instance, the roles of Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri, ex-Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and other Democrats have not been made public.
Gephardt and Dean competed with Kerry for the nomination, and Gephardt was presumed to be a finalist to become Kerry's vice presidential nominee.